System and method for use of virtual or augmented reality with data center operations or cloud infrastructure

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for use of virtual reality and/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloud infrastructure services. The approach leverages virtual reality and/or augmented reality, and insights from various sources of data describing the operation of the data center, including data center analytics, for facilitating in-situ diagnostics, operations, monitoring, maintenance, repair, health prognostics, and remote collaboration, toward enhancing the efficiency of managing and running data centers. In accordance with an embodiment, the system can operate with VR/AR devices that can be provided as VR/AR headsets or other devices, that include sensors that measure a data center operator&#39;s position, orientation, and movement within a cloud infrastructure or data center environment, and can display a visualization associated with the physical devices of the data center environment, including where appropriate information from other sources useful in performing data center operations.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE OF VIRTUAL ORAUGMENTED REALITY WITH CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES AND DATA CENTEROPERATIONS”, Application No. 62/915,422, filed Oct. 15, 2019; whichapplication is herein incorporated by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein are generally related to the management ofcomputer data centers that support cloud computing environments, and areparticularly related to the use of virtual reality and/or augmentedreality to support data center operations or the management of cloudinfrastructure services.

BACKGROUND

Modern computer data centers range in size from smaller data halls orcages, perhaps with a few 100 kW power racks, to larger data centersthat would span several football fields, with power requirements in therange of 10's of MW.

As the size, complexity, and scale of data centers grow, the operating,monitoring, maintaining and updating of such data centers requires asignificant amount of operator manual intervention around the clock(24×7) throughout the year.

Data center (human) operators, upon notification via alarms, work toidentify problem areas, isolate incidents, or perform complex tasks,including repairs and maintenance, oftentimes with limited knowledgeabout the underlying issues. Resolving the problem may necessitateseveral long back-and-forth trips by those operators from a home base toimpacted areas, including intervening communications with an operationscommand center, or with subject matter experts who can help withtriaging and resolving issues.

As a result, extended outages in data centers, and longer remediationtimes, are fairly common, and often require the intervention of severalteams across geographic boundaries working through tedious runbooks orwritten process documentation.

Better insight into the underlying issues, and an ability to act uponchanges or repair protocols in-situ would be useful in enhancing theoperational efficiencies of such data centers or cloud computingenvironments.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system andmethod for use of virtual reality and/or augmented reality with datacenter operations and cloud infrastructure services. The approachleverages virtual reality and/or augmented reality, and insights fromvarious sources of data describing the operation of the data center,including data center analytics, for facilitating in-situ diagnostics,operations, monitoring, maintenance, repair, health prognostics, andremote collaboration, toward enhancing the efficiency of managing andrunning data centers. In accordance with an embodiment, the system canoperate with VR/AR devices that can be provided as VR/AR headsets orother devices, that include sensors that measure a data centeroperator's position, orientation, and movement within a cloudinfrastructure or data center environment, and can display avisualization associated with the physical devices of the data centerenvironment, including where appropriate information from other sourcesuseful in performing data center operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example representation of a physical layout of adata center, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example ticket tracking system for use with datacenter operations, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a typical data center operationlifecycle, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system for use of virtual reality and/oraugmented reality with data center operations and cloud infrastructureservices, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example visualization provided by the use ofvirtual reality and/or augmented reality with data center operations andcloud infrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example visualization, in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates another example visualization, in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates another example visualization, in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates examples of devices such as VR/AR (computer)devices, which can be provided as a VR/AR headset, tablet, mobile,phone, or other types of devices, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 15 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 16 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 17 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 18 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 19 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 20 illustrates a process for use of virtual reality and/oraugmented reality with data center operations and cloud infrastructureservices, in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, as the size, complexity, and scale of data centersgrow, the operating, monitoring, maintaining and updating of such datacenters requires a significant amount of operator manual interventionaround the clock (24×7) throughout the year. Data center (human)operators, upon notification via alarms, work to identify problem areas,isolate incidents, or perform complex tasks, including repairs andmaintenance, oftentimes with limited knowledge about the underlyingissues. Resolving the problem may necessitate several longback-and-forth trips by those operators from a home base to impactedareas, including intervening communications with an operations commandcenter, or with subject matter experts who can help with triaging andresolving issues.

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system andmethod for use of virtual reality and/or augmented reality with datacenter operations and cloud infrastructure services.

The approach leverages virtual reality and/or augmented reality, andinsights from various sources of data describing the operation of thedata center, including data center analytics, for facilitating in-situdiagnostics, operations, monitoring, maintenance, repair, healthprognostics, and remote collaboration, toward enhancing the efficiencyof managing and running data centers.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can operate with VR/ARdevices that can be provided as VR/AR headsets or other devices, thatinclude sensors that measure a data center operator's position,orientation, and movement within a cloud infrastructure or data centerenvironment, and can display a visualization associated with thephysical devices of the data center environment, including whereappropriate information from other sources useful in performing datacenter operations.

Introduction to Data Centers, Layouts, and Lifecycles

Cloud infrastructure service providers, for example Oracle Corporation,build and operate data centers in different geographic regionsworldwide. An important function of such cloud infrastructure serviceproviders is to maximize the accessibility and availability ofinfrastructure resources to customers, such as, for example, the numberof server cores that are available and active, the amount of datastorage that is available and/or filled, and network physical andvirtual connectivity to the data centers providing low-latencyaccessibility to data and software applications.

These considerations are often measured by service level agreements(SLA) requiring, for example, 99.9% availability, or a permissibledowntime per year that may be measured in minutes.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example representation of a physical layout of adata center, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , within a typical cloud infrastructure or datacenter environment, physical computer resources are tightly organized inrows and columns of racks in data halls. Racks are arranged in rows andcolumns and have inter-rack and intra-rack cabling infrastructure. Inaddition, power distribution units (PDU), breakers, air handlers, andcooling units are often part of the physical layout.

Racks containing compute servers, storage, database machines, switches,networking equipment and are generally interconnected with a variety ofdifferent inter-rack cables (for example, direct attach copper (DAC) andoptical cables), as well as structured fiber intra-rack cable types, andalso power delivery units to the racks.

A typical large data center may hold thousands of racks, with each rackholding 42 rack units (as an example). Typical power to each rack is maxrated at either 15 kVA or 24 kVA. Tens of thousands, to hundreds ofthousands of server and storage units, and tens of thousands of switchesare not uncommon in a typical data center. On top of this, the number ofintra- and inter-rack cables and data ports scale proportionally by afactor of about 30 to 100. Each switch may have over 50 interfaces. Eachinterface may have 10-100 or more Object Identifier (OID) strings.Information is therefore available from hundreds of millions of suchstrings within the data center. The complexity and scale at theindividual rack and device level is substantial.

At these scales, hardware and software failures are fairly common. Toensure high availability, the data centers are architected to be highlyresilient with both hardware and software redundancy. Hardware failurerates at the field replaceable unit (FRU) level can happen at the ratebetween 1-in-1000 to 1-in-10,000 per day. Due to the very high volume ofthe number of FRU's deployed within each rack, this can translate toseveral racks impacted per day in the data centers requiring on-siteattention to minimize down times.

Running efficient data centers require the continuous monitoring ofsensor information that track in real-time (or near-real-time) thehealth of every single racks and constituent elements within thoseracks. Information can be retrieved via a pull model (such as using SNMPor API) or via a push model using streaming telemetry. Data centerinfrastructure management tools, including custom-built environments,help with both SNMP and streaming telemetry. Such tools provide aholistic view of data centers at a very granular level. Operationscommand centers can then rely on this data and use several dashboards tomonitor, assess, and act on information, for example through the use ofa ticket tracking system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example ticket tracking system for use with datacenter operations, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , whenever issues are detected, data centeroperators are notified via alerts, in response to which they may walkback and forth multiple times, to the impacted column and row in thedata hall, and identify the racks and corresponding servers or otherequipment and follow necessary runbooks for triage, isolation, repairs,maintenance, decommissioning and/or commissioning steps as required.Data center operators may spend a significant portion of their dailytime on resolving such issues.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a typical data center operationlifecycle, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , operator involvement in such tasks flowthrough the entire lifecycle 100, from data center installation andbring-up, to daily operations until end-of-life.

Due to the scale and volume of equipment they handle daily—whilephysically moving back and forth several times from office to warehouseto data center halls while transporting equipment for repairs,replacement or maintenance—highly precise operator touch is required. Asubstantial amount of time is spent in analyzing data (away from problemareas) and then locating problem areas. There are opportunities formissteps, which compound the issues and further increase outage times.Additionally, there is a significant amount of manual touch in all thesesteps.

As data centers start automating steps to address the above, it isdesirable to provide individual operators with additional informationthat aids and improves daily operational efficiency all around.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Generally described, virtual reality (VR) provides a simulatedexperience which can either resemble, or be completely different from,the real/physical world.

A virtual reality system can use devices such as wearable VR/AR headsetsincorporating display screens to generate images and sounds thatsimulate a user's physical presence in a virtual environment. A personusing virtual reality equipment is able to move around the virtualenvironment, and interact with virtual objects or features within thatenvironment.

Generally described, augmented reality (AR) provides a form of virtualreality that supplements the information the user sees in areal/physical environment with additional computer-generated content.

An augmented reality system can use devices such as VR/AR headsets togenerate images that augment the user's perception of the real/physicalenvironment, for example, by layering computer-generated data orinformation over a display of the real/physical environment. Toaccomplish this, augmented reality systems generally perform aregistration of the displayed computer-generated data or informationwith actual coordinates of the real/physical environment.

In accordance with various embodiments, VR/AR devices can include GlobalPositioning System (GPS) sensors, accelerometers, or other sensors thatmeasure the user's position, orientation, and movement within thereal/physical environment, and can be provided, for example, as VR/ARheadsets as described above. In accordance with various otherembodiments, other types of VR/AR computer devices can be used, such as,for example, Oculus, Magic Leap, HoloLens, VR glasses, hand-held orwearable computers, tablet or pad-like computer devices, or smartphones.

VR/AR with Data Centers/Cloud Infrastructure Services

In accordance with an embodiment, the approach described hereinleverages virtual reality and/or augmented reality, and insights fromvarious sources of data describing the operation of the data center,including data center analytics, for facilitating in-situ diagnostics,operations, monitoring, maintenance, repair, health prognostics, andremote collaboration, toward enhancing the efficiency of managing andrunning data centers.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can operate with VR/ARdevices that can be provided as VR/AR headsets or other devices, thatinclude sensors that measure a data center operator's position,orientation, and movement within a cloud infrastructure or data centerenvironment, and can display a visualization associated with thephysical devices of the data center environment, including whereappropriate information from other sources useful in performing datacenter operations.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system for use of virtual reality and/oraugmented reality with data center operations and cloud infrastructureservices, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in accordance with an embodiment, a datacenter 110 or cloud infrastructure services environment, can includephysical data center equipment, servers, racks, sensors, or otherdevices 112; that are accessible to data center customers 114, who maybe associated with customer requirements, or service level agreements116.

In accordance with an embodiment, the data center can include a VR/ARframework 120 that enables the use of virtual reality and/or augmentedreality with data center operations and cloud infrastructure services.

In accordance with an embodiment, the VR/AR framework can receivereal-time (or near-real-time) signals 122, metrics, analytics, or otherdata, from or associated with the physical data center equipment,servers, racks, sensors, or other devices, and other information or data124 via a data convergence layer or component 126.

In accordance with an embodiment, examples of sources for the otherinformation or data can include, for example, a ticket tracking system(database) 130, a data center layout (database) 132, or a knowledgemanagement database 134.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can be accessed via a VR/AR(computer) device 140, which can be provided as a VR/AR headset asdescribed above, that includes a device hardware 142 (e.g., processor,memory) and sensors that measure the position, orientation, and movementof a data center operator 150 within a real/physical environment, forexample a cloud infrastructure or data center environment.

In accordance with an embodiment, as the data center operator workswithin the cloud infrastructure or data center environment, usingVR/AR-enabled interaction 160, the VR/AR (computer) device cancommunicate with the data center VR/AR framework, and display avisualization 170 associated with the physical devices of the cloudinfrastructure or data center environment.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, the visualization caninclude or be overlaid upon a displayed elevation of the rack, blade,slot, or other data center device to be examined, which acts as asafeguard to working on the wrong rack/blade.

In accordance with an embodiment, the device can display a map of thedata center, together with information provided in the line of vision ofthe data center operator, so that they do not have to look at multiplescreens for that information.

In accordance with an embodiment, the data convergence layer orcomponent also enables data to be communicated between the data centerand other locations, via for example a network/cloud 180, for example tocommunicate information to and/or receive assistance from one or more(remote) data center specialists 182.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system enables data centeroperations 190 by the data center operator, including for examplefacilitating in-situ diagnostics, operations, monitoring, maintenance,repair, health prognostics, and remote collaboration.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system operates as a convergedsystem, and can utilize an event-driven model that operates in a dynamicmanner. For example, the information displayed can be updated inreal-time or near-real-time to reflect what the data center operator isactually seeing.

In accordance with an embodiment, the information can include datacenter related analytics, for example, describing which are the problemsthat have occurred with a particular data center component; whetherthere has been a temperature rise, or what else has happened.

In accordance with an embodiment, information can be gathered frommultiple other systems or sources, and then filtered or otherwiseprocessed to exclude information that isn't needed, and provide focusedinformation for the data center operator.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can leverage additionalsources of information such as knowledge management articles, and canimprove the utility of the data center analytics over time.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can utilize artificialintelligence (AI) models to determine analytics and insights to providethe focus for the data center operator.

In accordance with an embodiment, the VR/AR framework can be madeextensible, for example to snap-in various device telemetry drivers.

In accordance with an embodiment, each data center process may have anassociated SLA with how fast a particular problem should be fixed. Insuch an example, a data center team may need to modify the data centerto support a particular SLA, e.g., a data center technician wearing VRglasses may be signaled that a particular rack could be functioningimproperly and about to cause an SLA to be missed, and then operateaccordingly. Such a scenario could be associated with an appropriatevisualization alerting of that condition (e.g., a depiction of flames).

FIG. 5 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in accordance with an embodiment, the VR/ARframework can receive real-time (or near-real-time) signals, metrics,analytics, or other data, from or associated with the physical datacenter equipment, servers, racks, sensors, or other devices, and otherinformation or data via the data convergence layer or component. Thesystem can be accessed via the VR/AR (computer) device, e.g., VR/ARheadset that includes sensors that measure the position, orientation,and movement of a data center operator within the data centerenvironment.

FIG. 6 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 , in accordance with an embodiment, as the datacenter operator works within the cloud infrastructure or data centerenvironment, using VR/AR-enabled interaction, the VR/AR (computer)device can display a visualization associated with the physical datacenter environment.

FIG. 7 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment, thevisualization can include or be overlaid upon a displayed elevation ofthe rack, blade, slot, or other data center device to be examined.

FIG. 8 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , in accordance with various embodiments, othertypes of VR/AR computer devices can be used, such as, for example,tablet or pad-like computer devices, or smart phones, wherein thevisualization can include or be overlaid upon a displayed elevation ofthe rack, blade, slot, or other data center device to be examined.

FIG. 9 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 , in accordance with an embodiment, the dataconvergence layer or component also enables data to be communicatedbetween the data center and other locations, via for example anetwork/cloud, to communicate information to and/or receive assistancefrom one or more (remote) data center specialists.

Example Visualizations

FIGS. 10-13 illustrate example visualizations provided by the use ofvirtual reality and/or augmented reality with data center operations andcloud infrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

Use of VRAR with Data Center Operations

In accordance with an embodiment, the addition of VR/AR features can beused to enhance the efficiency and productivity of data centeroperators. For example, each data center operator can be equipped with aVR/AR device, to use on data center premises, especially when away fromthe data center office home base.

In accordance with an embodiment, by adding VR and AR features in a datacenter, each and every operator can have instantaneous access to manyattributes in their data center operational space which can then bemanipulated.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, these can include, foreach region and availability domain (AD), building specific details,such as the physical layout; the halls; cages; columns and rows withdifferent rack SKU's; rack elevations; rack equipment and ports; fibertrunks, optical and copper cables connected, management port interfaces;meet me room location and ports, cross connects and physical portsmapped, fiber entry diversity, Autonet/cutsheets/identifiers; floorPDUs/rPDUs; IP addresses; make/model/location of air handlers, chillers,pumps, humidifiers, lighting, UPS, breakers and redundancy.

In accordance with an embodiment, by providing this repository ofinformation available on demand through a VR/AR-capable device providesthe data center operators with all the information and tools needed forthe immersive intervention needed for upkeep, troubleshooting andmaintenance literally at their fingertips.

In accordance with an embodiment, the use of a VR/AR device providesextra dimensions to the data center operator and obviates the need forthe data center operator to make long back- and forth-trips to the homebase. For example, VR/AR feature allow the data center operators tooverlay physical information with virtual information and not only acton those information in-situ but also do it in a continuous operatingmode. They will no longer be operating in an alerts only based interruptdriven mode.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a VR/AR (computer) device, which canbe provided as a VR/AR headset, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 14 , in accordance with an embodiment, the VR/AR(computer) device can display one or more, or a plurality ofvisualizations associated with the physical devices of the cloudinfrastructure or data center environment.

FIG. 15 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 15 , in accordance with an embodiment, the VR/ARframework can receive real-time (or near-real-time) signals, metrics,analytics, or other data, from or associated with the physical datacenter equipment, servers, racks, sensors, or other devices, and otherinformation or data via the data convergence layer or component. Thesystem can be accessed via the VR/AR (computer) device, e.g., VR/ARheadset that includes sensors that measure the position, orientation,and movement of a data center operator within the data centerenvironment.

FIG. 16 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 16 , in accordance with an embodiment, as thedata center operator works within the cloud infrastructure or datacenter environment, using VR/AR-enabled interaction, the VR/AR(computer) device can display a visualization associated with thephysical data center environment.

FIG. 17 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 17 , in accordance with an embodiment, thevisualization can include or be overlaid upon a displayed elevation ofthe rack, blade, slot, or other data center device to be examined.

FIG. 18 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 18 , in accordance with various embodiments,other types of VR/AR computer devices can be used, such as, for example,tablet or pad-like computer devices, or smart phones, wherein thevisualization can include or be overlaid upon a displayed elevation ofthe rack, blade, slot, or other data center device to be examined.

FIG. 19 further illustrates an example system for use of virtual realityand/or augmented reality with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 19 , in accordance with an embodiment, thevisualization can include, for example, data center analytics andinsights, which can be used to improve data center health diagnosticsand prognostics.

FIG. 20 illustrates a process for use of virtual reality and/oraugmented reality with data center operations and cloud infrastructureservices, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 20 , in accordance with an embodiment, theprocess or method can include, at step 260, providing a VR/AR frameworkthat enables the use of virtual reality and/or augmented reality withdata center operations and cloud infrastructure services.

At step 262, the VR/AR framework receives real-time (or near-real-time)signals from physical data center equipment, servers, racks, sensors, orother physical devices, and other information or data via a dataconvergence layer or component.

At step 264, the system is accessible via a VR/AR device which includessensors that measure the position, orientation, and movement of a datacenter operator within the cloud infrastructure or data centerenvironment.

At step 266, while the data center operator works within the cloudinfrastructure or data center environment, displaying at the VR/ARdevice a visualization or other information associated with the physicaldevices of the cloud infrastructure or data center environment.

Technical Advantages

In accordance with an embodiment, examples of various technicaladvantages provided by an AR/VR approach as described herein includethat the data center operator can, for example:

Instantaneously access problem locations and, for example, zoom in onthe problem server, or ports.

Accurately identify the granular location of problematic FRUs.

Securely login to devices as needed to initiate trouble shootingsequences right from his/her AR-enabled device.

Compare a last known good state versus bad state, read signatures andpast events from FRUs e.g. Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM)messages, rack power distribution units (rPDU) information, and thentake necessary follow-up steps in-situ.

Obtain detailed assessment of rack and surrounding environment (whichwere not part of any alerts), and feed the information back into thesystem or generate alerts in real-time (or near-real-time) when issuesare detected or the system becomes aware of impending failure modes.

Trigger a switch to a redundant device or a diverse path for traffic toensure uninterrupted traffic flow.

Initiate changes in repair/maintenance work flow based on observationsand access to runbooks.

Run scripts to diagnose/repair/recover/validate work.

Verify up-close the status of amber light indicators and anydiscrepancies from devices, and compare in the VR/AR state what theinternal machine reports as green/amber (both real and false lightstates).

Perform shut downs, disconnects, connects and restarts before or aftermany of the above sequences have been initiated and using the VR/ARenabled devices to initiate and take through completion a sequence oflaunch and rack bring up steps.

Optimize work performed by the data center operator using AR, includingthat touch points are minimized leveraging AR device capabilities.

Identify contextual discrepancies between asset information visible tothem in the facilities and the one recorded within the central systemseasily and drive auditable corrective updates.

Prioritize contextual information available in the facilities overconflicting information provided by central facilities and assetinformation systems, for the operations at hand.

Optimize workflows for receiving of new assets within a data center, forregistration within, e.g., Data Center Infrastructure Management (datacenterIM) and/or asset management services.

Use of VR/AR in Providing Data Center Analytics

In accordance with an embodiment, the addition of data center analyticsand insights can also be used, for example, to improve data centerhealth diagnostics and prognostics.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, while walking around thedata center halls and cages, the data center operator can gatherinsights on typical data center parameters such as: rack temperatures,server and port pluggables, temperatures, rack level power consumption,power supply usage, surges, interruption, SLA breaches on dropped packetor dropped frames, cable cuts or failures, hardware failures includingfield replaceable unit (FRU) failures, spikes in traffic or outage. Manyof these are continuously monitored via dashboards upstream in acentralized command center while some are local to the data center.

In accordance with an embodiment, the data center operator can integrateSNMP or streaming telemetry from the physical data center space, andfeed information for analytics (both health diagnostics and long termprognostics).

The data center operator, from within a VR/AR space, can reviewdashboards on demand and look at trends and gauge the health and statusand launch some maintenance steps using specific AR configured executionmenus.

Having this analytic information can enhance the overall awareness ofsurrounding environment such as when some localized areas within thedata center starting to show signs of increased temperature as a resultof impending equipment malfunction or poor air circulation orobstructions of cold air to some racks. Such types of information arenot normally available in an alerts based intervention state.

Additionally, the use of AR/VR analytics based information gatheringenables the data center operator to learn of issues by walking around inthe data center while wearing the AR/VR enabled device, and/orinformation can be collected during routine walk-throughs and providedas an almost continuous dump into the streaming collector.

In accordance with an embodiment, the AR/VR and analytics approach canbe used to help with remote management of data centers. A virtualrepresentation of the physical data center space with all the details onthe deployed fleet available (in a local sense and a global view acrossall data centers) allows remote management for the off-site engineers toassess, monitor and troubleshoot the data center issues, eitherstandalone or in collaboration with the on-site operators.

In accordance with various embodiments, the teachings herein may beconveniently implemented using one or more conventional general purposeor specialized computer, computing device, machine, or microprocessor,including one or more processors, memory and/or computer readablestorage media programmed according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure. Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared byskilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, aswill be apparent to those skilled in the software art.

In some embodiments, the teachings herein can include a computer programproduct which is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium(media) having instructions stored thereon/in which can be used toprogram a computer to perform any of the processes of the presentteachings. Examples of such storage mediums can include, but are notlimited to, hard disk drives, hard disks, hard drives, fixed disks, orother electromechanical data storage devices, floppy disks, opticaldiscs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrive, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs,EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or opticalcards, nanosystems, or other types of storage media or devices suitablefor non-transitory storage of instructions and/or data.

The foregoing description has been provided for the purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the scope of protection to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to the practitionerskilled in the art.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the present teachings and their practical application,thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the variousembodiments and with various modifications that are suited to theparticular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope be defined bythe following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for use of virtual reality (VR) and/oraugmented reality (AR) with data center operations and cloudinfrastructure services, comprising: one or more computer devicesoperating within a data center and including a processor and memory andproviding: a virtual reality and/or augmented reality (VR/AR) frameworkthat enables the use of virtual reality and/or augmented reality withdata center operations and cloud infrastructure services; and a dataconvergence layer or component that: receives information or dataassociated with physical data center equipment from sources includingone or more of a ticket tracking system database, data center layoutdatabase, or knowledge management database, and communicates databetween the data center and other locations, via a network or cloud, tocommunicate information to and/or receive assistance from one or moreremote data center specialists; wherein the VR/AR framework receivesreal-time or near-real-time signals from physical data center equipment,including servers, racks, sensors, or other physical devices, and otherinformation or data via the data convergence layer or component, whereinthe data convergence layer or component operates to communicate andreceive the information or data associated with the data centerequipment between the data center and other systems or sources of data;wherein the system is accessible via a VR/AR device which includessensors that measure the position, orientation, and movement of a datacenter operator within the cloud infrastructure or data centerenvironment; wherein as the data center operator works within the cloudinfrastructure or data center environment, and interacts with particulardata center equipment, the VR/AR device: displays a visualization orother information associated with the particular data center equipmentor the data center environment, based on the information received viathe data convergence layer or component and associated with theparticular data center equipment being examined, and overlaid upon aview of the particular data center equipment; wherein the systemutilizes an event-driven model that operates in a dynamic manner,including that the information displayed is updated in real-time ornear-real-time to reflect what the data center operator is seeing;wherein the information includes data center related analyticsdescribing particular data center components; and wherein the systemoperates so that information including data center related analytics isgathered from multiple systems or sources, filtered, and overlaid uponthe view of the particular data center equipment, to provide avisualization having focused information for the data center operator.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data convergence layer orcomponent enables communication of data between the data center andother locations, via a network/cloud, including one or more remote datacenter specialists.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the visualizationincludes or is overlaid upon a displayed elevation of a rack, blade,slot, or other physical device of the data center to be examined.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the data convergence layer or componentenables receipt of information from other sources of data, including oneor more of a ticket tracking system (database), data center layout(database), or knowledge management database.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the information includes data center related analyticsdescribing problems that have occurred with particular data centercomponents.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the information isgathered from multiple other systems or sources, and then filtered orotherwise processed to provide focused information for the data centeroperator.
 7. A method for use of virtual reality and/or augmentedreality with data center operations and cloud infrastructure services,comprising: providing, within a data center, a system including avirtual reality and/or augmented reality (VR/AR) framework that enablesthe use of virtual reality and/or augmented reality with data centeroperations and cloud infrastructure services; providing a dataconvergence layer or component that: receives information or dataassociated with physical data center equipment from sources includingone or more of a ticket tracking system database, data center layoutdatabase, or knowledge management database, and communicates databetween the data center and other locations, via a network or cloud, tocommunicate information to and/or receive assistance from one or moreremote data center specialists; wherein the VR/AR framework receivesreal-time or near-real-time signals from physical data center equipment,including servers, racks, sensors, or other physical devices, and otherinformation or data via data convergence layer or component, wherein thedata convergence layer or component operates to communicate and receivethe information or data associated with the data center equipmentbetween the data center and other systems or sources of data; whereinthe system is accessible via a VR/AR device which includes sensors thatmeasure the position, orientation, and movement of a data centeroperator within the cloud infrastructure or data center environment; andwhile the data center operator works within the cloud infrastructure ordata center environment, and interacts with particular data centerequipment: displaying at the VR/AR device a visualization or otherinformation associated with the particular data center equipment or thedata center environment, based on the information received via the dataconvergence layer or component and associated with the particular datacenter equipment being examined, and overlaid upon a view of theparticular data center equipment; wherein the system utilizes anevent-driven model that operates in a dynamic manner, including that theinformation displayed is updated in real-time or near-real-time toreflect what the data center operator is seeing; wherein the informationincludes data center related analytics describing particular data centercomponents; and wherein the system operates so that informationincluding data center related analytics is gathered from multiplesystems or sources, filtered, and overlaid upon the view of theparticular data center equipment, to provide a visualization havingfocused information for the data center operator.
 8. The method of claim7, wherein the data convergence layer or component enables communicationof data between the data center and other locations, via anetwork/cloud, including one or more remote data center specialists. 9.The method of claim 7, wherein the visualization includes or is overlaidupon a displayed elevation of a rack, blade, slot, or other physicaldevice of the data center to be examined.
 10. The method of claim 7,wherein the data convergence layer or component enables receipt ofinformation from other sources of data, including one or more of aticket tracking system (database), data center layout (database), orknowledge management database.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein theinformation includes data center related analytics describing problemsthat have occurred with particular data center components.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the information is gathered from multipleother systems or sources, and then filtered or otherwise processed toprovide focused information for the data center operator.
 13. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructionsstored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computerscause the one or more computers to perform a method comprising:providing, within a data center, a system including a virtual realityand/or augmented reality (VR/AR) framework that enables the use ofvirtual reality and/or augmented reality with data center operations andcloud infrastructure services; providing a data convergence layer orcomponent that: receives information or data associated with physicaldata center equipment from sources including one or more of a tickettracking system database, data center layout database, or knowledgemanagement database, and communicates data between the data center andother locations, via a network or cloud, to communicate information toand/or receive assistance from one or more remote data centerspecialists; wherein the VR/AR framework receives real-time ornear-real-time signals from physical data center equipment, includingservers, racks, sensors, or other physical devices, and otherinformation or data via data convergence layer or component, wherein thedata convergence layer or component operates to communicate and receivethe information or data associated with the data center equipmentbetween the data center and other systems or sources of data; whereinthe system is accessible via a VR/AR device which includes sensors thatmeasure the position, orientation, and movement of a data centeroperator within the cloud infrastructure or data center environment; andwhile the data center operator works within the cloud infrastructure ordata center environment, and interacts with particular data centerequipment: displaying at the VR/AR device a visualization or otherinformation associated with the particular data center equipment or thedata center environment, based on the information received via the dataconvergence layer or component and associated with the particular datacenter equipment being examined, and overlaid upon a view of theparticular data center equipment; wherein the system utilizes anevent-driven model that operates in a dynamic manner, including that theinformation displayed is updated in real-time or near-real-time toreflect what the data center operator is seeing; wherein the informationincludes data center related analytics describing particular data centercomponents; and wherein the system operates so that informationincluding data center related analytics is gathered from multiplesystems or sources, filtered, and overlaid upon the view of theparticular data center equipment, to provide a visualization havingfocused information for the data center operator.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the dataconvergence layer or component enables communication of data between thedata center and other locations, via a network/cloud, including one ormore remote data center specialists.
 15. The non-transitory computerreadable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the visualization includesor is overlaid upon a displayed elevation of a rack, blade, slot, orother physical device of the data center to be examined.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein thedata convergence layer or component enables receipt of information fromother sources of data, including one or more of a ticket tracking system(database), data center layout (database), or knowledge managementdatabase.
 17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 16, wherein the information includes data center related analyticsdescribing problems that have occurred with particular data centercomponents.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 16, wherein the information is gathered from multiple othersystems or sources, and then filtered or otherwise processed to providefocused information for the data center operator.
 19. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the system operates so that, while the VR/AR frameworkreceives the real-time or near-real-time signals from physical datacenter equipment, including servers, racks, sensors, or other physicaldevices, and other information or data via the data convergence layer,the system determines that one or more physical devices may befunctioning improperly, and displays a visualization alerting of thatcondition.